4 Star Theatre
5112 Wilshire Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90036
5112 Wilshire Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90036
13 people
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If MPTV says that the picture at the link above is from 1921, they are mistaken. The plans for the United Artist’s Four Star Theatre weren’t even announced until mid-1931. The United Artists Company didn’t even exist yet in 1921. Their first theatre opened in 1927:
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The Four Star was one of several California theatres designed for the company by Walker and Eisen with C.E. Balch, associated, in the early 1930s. Most are now gone. The one in Berkeley is still open, though it has been multiplexed:
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Source: MPTV
Caption: Four Star Theater 1921 Copyright John Swope Trust / MPTV
L. Thomas:
Actually, the Miracle Mile, (thus named in the 1920s by its developer, A.W. Ross), extends from Sycamore Street (one block east of La Brea) westward to Fairfax Avenue, so the Four Star is virtually at its doorstep. See a brief description of the area in The Larchmont Chronicle.
I never attended the Four Star, but I have a good idea of what it was like, as I went to several movies at the almost identical U.A. Pasadena. It was a nice building, but leg room was minimal, so closely packed were the seats.
In the late 1960’s I was lucky enough to attend the Four Star Theatre twice, both times for exclusive engagements. One of the films was “The Graduate”, which showed the artificiality of nearby Beverly Hills society so well and of course features the songs of Simon and Garfunkel, and the other was “The Lion in Winter”, which featured brilliant performances by Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. These were two of the most finest movies I ever saw, and the big screen and excellent stereo sound system of the Four Star were perfect for both events.
Today, the former Four Star is a church, called “The Oasis”. Painted green and white, it is one of the finest examples of pure Art Deco architecture ever built in Los Angeles. This seems fitting, as it is located just about a mile east of the famous “Miracle Mile” on Wilshire Blvd.
Someone long ago said: “SteveP > Jun 13, 2003 1:31 AM EDT
‘The first press preview of "Gone With The Wind” was held at the Four Star in 1939’."
The Four Star Theatre was an independent theatre at that time and the owner did not repair or operate the air conditioning for the theatre. The sister theatre to this one was the UA Pasadena Theatre.
This was a great theater. I attended a 70mm festival there in 1992 and saw “The Road Warrior” and “Deliverance.”
The auditorium was quite large and the screen was pretty big. The distinct thing I remember about this theater was its lack of air conditioning! The festival was held during the middle of summer, and it was quite uncomfortable watching movies there. But it was still a treat to visit this once classic theater.
“The Graduate” opened at the Four Star Theatre and “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They” was over at the Picwood Theatre in West Los Angeles. The Picwood Theatre had a large parking lot behind the theatre.
Wasn’t this also the theatre where Jane Fonda, after viewing one of her own movies (They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?)slipped and fell in the parking lot when returning to her car, and broke her leg, and perhaps sued?
The Last Picture Show played here on first run. I think the long run of The Graduate was at the Fine Arts further down Wilshire, but may be wrong.
To see a 1938 photo (LA Public Library) of the premier of “In Old Chicago” at the Four Star Theater go here:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics50/00044831.jpg
The Four Star Theatre is located at 5112 Wilshire Blvd.. The marquee in the picture is long gone. You can still see the Unity & Artisty on the facade.
anyone know the address of this theater?
The architects for this theater were Walker & Eisen, along with C.A. Balch.
This theatre is a sister to the UA Pasadena. The UA Four Star was operated by Fox West Coast theatres during the 30’s thru the 40’s. After that United Artists theatres ran the house. During the 60’s it played many first run hits like “The Graduate”. When UA pulled out of the Four Star, Michell Bros. from San Francisco leased this house and the UA Inglewood for adult films. Just before the transfer to Michell Bros., UA pulled all the 70mm equipment and replaced it with 35mm. For about the next 10 years the Four Star would remain a adult house. During the the very late 70’s thru the late 80’s the Four Star ran 3rd run and Indian films. During the 90’s the Four Star ran 2nd run and classic films. During the 90’s the Four Star was re-equipped to run 70mm. The Norelco DP-70 projectors came from the old Fox Wilshire theatre down the street. The Fox Wilshire stopped playing movies in around 1977. During it’s last years as a theatre. It would run classic films on the Big Screen. Before the last transfer the DP-70 projectors would find a new home at the Warner Grand in San Pedro, Ca.. Today the Four Star is a Church. If you sat right in front of the theatre, you can see on the facade of the theatre the words and an art deco design. (Unity Artisty).